Game apparatus.



J. L. McCASKEY.

GAME APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 10,,1916.

Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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JOHN LYNN MCCASKEY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO PITTSBURGH GAME 86NOVELTY COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

GAME APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. a, rare.

Application filed February 10, 1916. Serial No. 77,473.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN L. McCAsKnY, a citizen of the United States, residing'at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Game Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to game apparatuses and has particular reference to a game apparatus wherein a ti ltable game board or tray is employed, with members on balls to roll thereon, and be caught in a safety zone or device.

An important object of the invention is to provide game apparatus of the above mentioned character, employing members or balls, representing the opposing armies of countries at war, which are originally held in trenches, and may be transported to a place of safety, in accordance with the rules of the game.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the members or balls may be arranged in proper order. when collected in the safety zone or device, without being returned to the trenches.

A further object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus of the above mentioned character, having a plurality of cannon, which are held in an elevated or active position, when the members or balls are arranged within the chambers of the trenches, and automatically dropped to a horizontal or inactive position, when the balls are removed from the chambers.

A further object of the invention is to providea game apparatus of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and highly interesting and attractive to play.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a' part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a plan view of game apparatus embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on line 22 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a similar view taken on line 33 ment of my invention, the numeral 10 desig- I nates a board or tray, having sides 11. Arranged centrally within the tray and eX- tending longitudinally thereof is an elevated strip 12, provided upon its upper surface with a centrally arranged longitudinal surface groove 13, provided at preferably equidlstantly spaced intervals with recesses or depressions 1 1, as more clearly shown in Fig. 1. As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the surface groove 13 is provided near its inlet end with laterally extending preferably angularly arranged grooves 15, converging toward the groove 13, and having free connnunication therewith. The groove 13 constitutes the safety zone or device, as will be more fully explained.

' The strip 12 forms with the sides of the tray 10 longitudinally extending trenches 16. The strip 12 is provided upon its vertical edges with pockets or chambers 17, having communication with the trenches 16, and receiving the members or balls, to be described.

Arranged within the trenches 16 adjacent the sides 11 of the tray are inclined tracks 18, extending up to and above a transverse elevated track 19, and forming therewith stop shoulders 19. The upper surface of this transverse track 19 is preferably flush with the inlet end of the groove 13. The lower ends of the tracks 18 are preferably spaced a substantial distance from the end of the tray, as shown.

The numeral 20 designates vertically swinging cannon, arranged above the strip 12, and preferably corresponding in number and arrangement to the chambers 17. Each cannon 20 is rigidly mounted upon a vertical lever 21, pivoted at 22. The lever 21 depends into the adjacent chamber 17 for a substantial distance, as clearly indicated in Fig. 5.

The playing members are adapted to roll upon the tray by tilting it in different directions, and such playing members are preferably in the form of balls 20 or marbles. The halls are preferably of difierent colors, or otherwise marked, so that the 0pposing players can readily distinguish the same.

In playing the game, the balls are arranged in the chambers 17 of the oppositely arranged trenches 16. These balls, within the chambers, contact with the levers 21 for holding them in inclined positions, whereby the cannon are held elevated. The balls in each set are preferably differently colored or marked for representing different countries and these balls are preferably arranged in suitable order. The first player holds the game board in his hands and tilts the same laterally, causing the ball representing a selected country on his side, to roll into the trench. Having selected the ball, the player attempts to cause it to travel upwardly upon the adjacent incline 18, to the elevated track 19, where it falls behind the stop shoulder 19. WVhen the tray is further manipulated or. tilted the ball passesinto the safety groove 18. When this has been accomplished, the opposing player takes the game board andtilts the same to discharge the selected ball into his trench 16 and by proper manipulation thereof to transfer it into the groove 18. The game apparatus is so constructed that the board must betilted laterally as well as longitudinclly to effect the proper movement of the ball from the trench into the groove 13. This operation tends to causethe ball within theugroove 13 to roll therefrom, but the tilting of the game board laterally causes the ball to be caught in the lateral groove extension 15, thus preventing its discharge. It is obvious that by a skilful manipulation of the board the player may successfully discharge his opponents ball from the groove 13 while causing his ball to pass therein. When all of the balls have been transferred from the trenches to the groove 13, all of the cannon will be in the lowered inactive position, thus indicating that the war is over. The balls are ordinarily fed into the groove 13 without respect to any particular order, the balls of the opposing sides being sometimes alternately arranged. To make the game more realistic, it is desired to arrange the balls within the groove 13 in proper order, to wit, i-n two sets, containing the balls of the opposing sides. This can be readily accomplished by tilting the game board longitudinally and laterally, allowing certain balls to enter the grooves 15, others to pass upon the transverse tray 19 while the selected ball may be-fed to the closed end of the groove 13. It is obvious that by a more or less similar operation each ball may be fed into the groove 13-in-proper order, without returning itto the trench.

It is obvious that the game apparatus is not restricted in use with any particular rules of playing, as the same may be greatly varied. 7

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of partsmay be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim V 1. In a game apparatus of the-character. described, a tilt'able tray, amember arranged upon't-he tray and extending longitudinally thereof and forming withthe sides-:ofxthe tray trenches and having its top surface provided with a longitudinal'groove, and inclined tracks arranged within the: trenches and adapted to conduct a rollingmember to the intake end ofthe. groove. 7

2. In a game apparatus of the character described, a t'iltable tray, a longitudinal member having a surface groove upon its top and arranged within the tray-toform trenches with the sides thereof, an elevated transverse track arranged adjacent the intakeend of the groove, and inclinedtracks disposed within the trenchesandwleading to the transverse elevated track.

8. In a game apparatus of thecharacter described; a tiltable tray; a longitudinal member mounted within the tray. andforrning therewith longitudinal trenches, vsaid member being provided upon its top-surface with a groove and upon its vertical edges with chambers; inclined tracks arranged within the trenches and adapted to 30011- duct rolling members to the intake endof the groove; and a rolling member to trave upon the tracks.

4. In game apparatus of the character described; a tiltable tray; a longitudinal member mountedwithin the tray and'forming therewith longitudinal trenches, said memher being provided upon its top surface with a longitudinal groove having oppositelyextending lateral groove extensions, and upon its upstanding edges with chambers; a transverse elevated track arranged at one end of the longitudinal groove; and inclined tracks extending within the trenches and leading to the ends of the transverse track.

5. In game apparatus ofthe character described, a table adaptedto be held the hand and longitudinally and laterally tilted and provided upon its upper surface with a longitudinal groove to receive balls and having lateral groove extensionsto receive the balls upon the longitudinal-groove,so that the balls may be arranged in theaproper order therein, and means forconducting :a rolling element into the longitudinaligroove upon the'proper. tilting ofthe: table.

6. In game apparatus of the character described, a table provided upon its upper surface with a longitudinal groove to receii e balls and having lateral groove extensions to receive the balls from the longitudinal groove, and a transverse track having communication with the intake end of the longitudinal groove.

7. In game apparatus of the character described, a tray, a cannon movably mounted upon the tray, and a member tomove the cannon adapted to have contact with a ball to be moved by the ball.

8. In game apparatus of the character described, a table having a chamber formed therein, a cannon arranged near and above the table, and a pivoted lever supporting the cannon and projecting into the chamber, to contact with a ball therein.

9. In game apparatus of the character described, a tray, a longitudinal strip arranged within the tray and forming therewith trenches and provided upon its edges with chambers and upon its upper surface with a longitudinal groove, cannon arranged upon the upper surface of the strip, pivoted levers supporting the cannon and extending into the chambers, and tracks adapted to conduct the balls from the trenches to the intake end of the longitudinal groove.

10. In game apparatus of the character described, a tray, a longitudinal strip arranged therein and forming therewith trenches and having its upper surface provided with a longitudinal groove, a transverse track arranged adjaoent the intake end of the longitudinal groove, and longitudinal inclined tracks arranged Within the trenches with their upper ends extending up to and above the transverse track to form stop shoulders therewith.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN LYNN MCCASKEY.

WVitnesses ELLA J. I-IERING, HENRIETTA MILEs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

